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RESIDENCY PERMITS

Toma de Huellas: What to know about Spain’s fingerprinting for residency

For certain types of residency permits in Spain you will need to have your fingerprints taken in order to be officially registered. Here's what you need to know about what this process involves and how to go about it.

Published: 16 September 2024 11:16 CEST
Toma de Huellas: What to know about Spain’s fingerprinting for residency
Getting your fingerprints taken in Spain. Source: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service / picryl

There are many different processes you’ll have to go through as part of your move to Spain, from applying for visas to getting residency permits and maybe registering with social security. The process of toma de huellas is just another of these you’ll have to go through in order to legally reside here. 

What is toma de huellas?

Toma de huellas  means fingerprint taking in Spanish. The process is carried out by the National Police or officials from the Immigration Office and involves taking a person’s fingerprints so that they are legally registered in the national database.

Non-EU foreign residents will be asked to give their fingerprints when they apply for residency permits such as the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero or TIE, which translates as Foreign Identity Card. Those who have gained residency as family members of EU citizens will also need to go through this process.

You may also need to give your fingerprints again when you go to renew your residency card or if your card is lost or stolen and you need to apply for a new one.

How is it done?

The fingerprinting is done as part of the processing of your residency card. You will need to book a prior appointment or cita previa to get it done, you can’t just turn up at your local police station or immigration office and ask for the process to be carried out.

To get your appointment, you will need to go to the special government web page and click on your province and location to book one near you. 

The TIE and other residency cards typically should be applied for within one month of arriving in Spain, after you have your initial authorisation, such as your visa.

Fingerprinting will be done at the same time as processing all your documentation and preparing your card, so you need to make sure you have everything in order beforehand.

READ ALSO – GUIDE: How foreigners can apply for their TIE residency card in Spain

What documents do I need?

The documents you need may differ depending on what type of residency document you get, but the most common are the documents you need for the TIE.

In this case you will need:

  • Modelo EX17 – The application form in order to apply for your TIE. This must be filled out and signed.
  • A valid passport or other travel document showing your date of entry into Spain. If you didn’t enter through passport control at an airport you must have declared your arrival in person at any Police Station or Foreign Office within a maximum period of 72 hours from the moment of entry into Spain.  
  • A recent colour passport-sized photograph on a white background, passport size.
  • Your visa, if applicable.
  • The resolution granting you authorisation to live in Spain in the following cases: SME visas (displaced minors), authorisation for cross-border workers, law 14/2013 of Support for Entrepreneurs and their Internationalisation, resolutions of residence or stay granted under a Judicial Appeal. 
  • Proof of payment of the corresponding fees. 
  • Proof that you have registered with Social Security, if applicable. You will do this if you’re planning on working in Spain.

You may also need a recent padrón certificate to show your current address.

Remember you will need official translations (if not originally in Spanish) and copies of all these documents. 

At your appointment

When it’s time for your appointment, you will be called up to hand in all your documents.

At the same time, they will take a digital copy of your fingerprints on a small machine they have for the process. You may have to hold your fingers on for a certain length of time and put different parts on the screen in order for it to be fully completed. 

Once this is all done, you will typically have to make another appointment to go and pick up your TIE card or other when it’s ready.

The processing time can vary between regions, but they will usually inform you how long it will take. It will usually be one month or more.

READ ALSO: Can you move to Spain if you have a criminal record?

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For members

RENTING

The rules and small print for a rental contract for a room in Spain

Renting a room in Spain can often be easier and cheaper than trying to rent a whole apartment or house for yourself, but there are still several things you need to look out for in your rental contract and small print clauses you need to be aware of.

Published: 17 September 2024 09:28 CEST
The rules and small print for a rental contract for a room in Spain

Sharing a flat in Spain may of course not be your first choice; in 55 percent of cases people here do so because they can’t afford their own place. 

Renting a room is now almost 10 percent more expensive than a year ago, according to recent data published by property portal Idealista, costing almost double in 2024 than it did nine years ago.

The national average for renting a room is now €488 per month.

If you’ve come here to be a student or to learn Spanish though, renting a room can be excellent choice.

Due to Spain’s housing crisis and financial constraints, renting a room is no longer only an option for young people in Spain. In fact, in 2022 Idealista found that the average of a person sharing a home in Spain was 34. 

READ ALSO: Renting a room in Spain costs 90% more than in 2015

Renting a room is increasingly popular in Spain, especially in those cities where rent is very high, such as in regional capitals. 

While your contract for renting a room may not be extensive as renting a whole property, it’s still very important that you have one to make sure that you’re protected.

A room rental agreement not only ensures that both parties are clear about their rights and responsibilities, but also avoids potential misunderstandings and conflicts.

Typically, when you are renting una habitación, your room will be your space, but you will have shared access common areas such as the kitchen, living room and bathroom. 

READ ALSO – Aval: How to get a bank guarantee to rent a property in Spain

Factors to keep in mind when renting a room in Spain:

Tenants do not have the right to continue to live in the home beyond what is stipulated in the contract, so your landlord will have greater control over the property.

It is important that the room rental contract specifies the purpose of renting the room and how long it’s for. Generally, this type of rental is regulated by the Civil Code, but it could also be subject to the Urban Lease Law (LAU), even though the existence of this type of lease is not specified.

The room should include basic furniture, and the landlord is responsible for paying the bills initially, although they may be included in the rent.

There’s no minimum legal content that room rental contracts must contain, and it is not even mandatory for it to be in writing. But it is still advisable to get one in writing in order avoid future problems.

READ ALSO: The pros and cons of signing a temporary rental contract in Spain 

According to property website Idealista, room rental contracts should contain these following elements:

  • The duration of the contract.
  • A statement saying exactly which room is being rented out.
  • The rental price, as well as the payment method with which the tenant will pay the rent and when it will be due each month.
  • The services that are included, such as the use of the kitchen and being able to connect to the internet.
  • It’s also important that there’s a clause to say how payments should be divided in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
  • It must be indicated if subletting the room is allowed or not. As stated in the Civil Code this may be possible if your contract doesn’t specifically state that you can’t.
  • If the property is rented by several people, the contract must be formalised between all tenants through a single rental contract and tenants will appear in the same contract.

READ ALSO: Is subletting legal in Spain? 

How to tell if a room rental contract is legal in Spain

For a room rental agreement to be legal, it must contain the following information:

  • Full names, DNI or NIE number, address and telephone number of both the landlord and the tenant.
  • Specify the exact address of the home, the rented room and the common areas the tenant has access to.
  • The start and end date of the contract.
  • The amount of the deposit and the return conditions. It is not mandatory to provide a deposit, but landlords can request it.
  • The monthly rent, the payment method and how to make the payment.
  • It must state who is responsible for the necessary works and repairs in the home.
  • A clause must be included stating who responsible for community expenses, water, electricity, gas, etc.
  • The text must state the conditions for termination of the contract, such as non-payment of rent or failure to comply with the rules or the landlord selling the property.
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